Just In: Over 30 Killed, Many Missing As Bandits Launch Fresh Attack In Zamfara

— File photo of bandits

By Muyiwa Akinola

More than 30 persons have been reportedly killed in a fresh attack by suspected bandits on Dutsin Dan Ajiya village in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

Residents told journalists on Friday that the gunmen stormed the community on Thursday night after blocking major entry and exit points, leaving villagers trapped as the attackers unleashed terror for hours.

According to a reliable source, eyewitnesses disclosed that the armed men arrived on motorcycles and sealed off the village before launching the assault.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the gunmen shot sporadically and invaded homes without resistance.

“They came in large numbers on motorcycles and blocked all the roads leading in and out of the village. After that, they started shooting,” the source said.

According to him, about 30 bodies had been recovered as of Friday morning, while several others were still missing.

“The attack resulted in the death of at least 30 residents, both men and women. Many were wounded, and several others were abducted during the raid,” he added.

The latest killings add to the growing list of deadly attacks that have plagued Zamfara and other states in the North-West region.

It was reported that Zamfara has remained one of the epicentres of banditry in Nigeria, with armed groups frequently raiding rural communities, killing residents and abducting others for ransom.

Despite repeated assurances by authorities, attacks have continued unabated, forcing many communities to live in fear.

In February, gunmen ambushed residents of the Kyaram community in the Bukkuyyum Local Government Area as they returned from Maga Market, killing at least five people and leaving several others missing.

Similarly, on January 29, 2025, at least four residents of Gwargwaba village in Nahuce District, Bungudu Local Government Area, were killed when terrorists attacked the community and set houses ablaze.

A security alert platform, Bakatsine, confirmed that four villagers were burnt to death inside their homes during the raid, which occurred around 6 p.m.

The recurring violence has sparked protests in parts of the state. In July 2025, residents from over 30 communities in Gusau Local Government Area staged a protest against what they described as relentless killings and abductions.

The protesters alleged that villages such as Mada, Ruwan Bore, Fegin Baza, Bangi, Lilo, Wonaka and Fegin Mahe were under constant siege, claiming that as many as 100 people were being killed daily across affected areas.

Some of the placards read, “We, the people of about 30 communities of Gusau 11, need peace and want to be rescued from bandits,” and “Peace is our concern as we are being killed every day. End banditry in Mada, Lilo, Ruwan Bore, Fegin Baza, Bangi, others.”

Residents also lamented that persistent attacks had forced them to abandon farming activities, even at the peak of the rainy season, while food supplies were looted and destroyed by assailants.

Amid the worsening insecurity, the Zamfara State Government’s budgetary allocations have drawn criticism.

The state’s approved 2026 budget earmarked ₦1bn for the construction of cemeteries across the 14 local government areas. The allocation was captured under the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

A previous review of the state’s budget documents also showed that the government planned to spend an additional ₦2.5 billion on the purchase of 50 vehicles in 2025.

This is despite records indicating that ₦13.114 billion had already been expended between January and October 2024 for similar purposes.

The fresh massacre in Anka has once again raised concerns over the security situation in Zamfara, with residents calling for urgent and decisive action to halt the bloodshed and restore normalcy to affected communities.